Dorothy Tillman for Alderman

This endorsement, which Obama made before the 2007 municipal elections, is also problematic, for Tillman is widely known for engaging in cronyism when it comes to competitive City contracts. According to the Chicago Tribune article cited above,

> Obama endorsed former Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd), calling her “a very early supporter of my campaign.” Tillman was then under fire for her stewardship of the scandal-plagued Harold Washington Cultural Center, where contracts benefited members of her family.

There is a reason Dorothy Tillman is a former Alderwoman. But Obama sees no conflict in endorsing a candidate whose flagrant nepotism led her constitutents to reject her candidacy, even though she was an incumbent with key endorsements. I quote Obama from the same article:

> “I have been very proud of my track record as a state legislator and as a U.S. senator in terms of maintaining highly ethical behavior throughout my public life,” he said in a recent interview. “Dorothy Tillman and Alexi Giannoulias were strong supporters of mine. There were no allegations that they had done anything illegal. And it was not a conflict for me to show my support for them.”

How his behavior in Washington, DC, exonerates the corrupt Chicago politicians he endorses still remains a mystery. Does he seriously beleive a mere statement will clear these individuals of their venality and nepotism? Does the fact that they supported his candidacy make what they did any more palatable? Does he seriously think anyone with a modicum of intelligence would take that quotation seriously? Or is this just machine politics in a new iteration? Is this an example of Obama’s “new politics?” And is this “new politics” a product of his judgment? Are loyal Obama supporters always beyond reproach? Loyal “Bushies,” anyone?